I'm currently studying a dozen or so archaic languages for a "special project" I'm working on. Currently, I'm on Old Norse/Old Icelandic (essentially the same). A little while ago, I read this paragraph (several times), trying to voice some of the pronunciations. Oy! That's a tough one:

Doubled consonants, as in the classical pronunciation, are usually held longer than their individual counterparts. The doubled consonants kk, pp, tt are pre-aspirated in Modern Icelandic. This means that the same puff of air which follows p in American English 'pot' actually precedes kk, pp, or tt in the modern pronunciation. The consonants k, p, and t are also preaspirated when they immediately precede l, m, or n. The double consonant ll has a peculiar pronunciation. Many speakers articulate this as the cluster tl, but where the l is unvoiced. Thus there is a dental or alveolar tap followed by lateral expulsion of air around the tongue, but without any of the vocal chord vibration an English speaker normally associates with l. When consonant clusters exceed two, alteration or deletion may occur, so that, e.g., rigndi is pronounced more like "rindi", barns more like "bass".

Hmm...seems a bit long for someone not "into" this like I am. I wonder if anyone will a) read that paragraph, let alone b) attempt it like i did! =)

Friday, July 11, 2008

A little while ago, I emailed someone at work telling them to use the form I attached to the email. They responded that there was no attachment. Sure enough, I had forgotten to attach it. (We've all done that, right?)

So I responded (attaching the document this time) saying, "Whoops! There it is."

Only once I hit "Send" did I realize that that was a well-known song! xD

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Ok, since our company has gov't. contracts overseas in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, once every year or two, my boss (V.P. of HR) has to travel there. So as she's leaving for Afghanistan yesterday, one of my co-worker's says: "Be safe! Don't let the Israelites or whoever get you!" !!!!!!!!!!?????????

I smacked myself in the head in a "You Idiot!" gesture before I could restrain myself. Boss's reply was a little more gracious: "Well, I think I'd rather get captured by Israelites than any of the other options, since they're our friends."